News

Haile streets field, misses record - 1/12/08

He smashed the field but could not beat the clock. Haile Gebreselassie comfortably crossed the line in first place, but he was most unhappywith his commanding win in the Great Australian Run yesterday.

The greatest distance runner ever toyed with a talent-studded field, brushing aside challenges from Kenyan Patrick Makau and an early battle with Craig Mottram in the 15-kilometre event, only to later confess he felt terrible, was suffering severe jet-lag and had slept for only two hours on Saturday night. "It was not easy," he said.

"I could not sleep the last two days because of jet-lag ... I expected to register a good time but this morning I didn't feel so good from lack of sleep. I should have come here five or six days ago but I made a mistake in arriving only on Friday."

It's not easy being the greatest. The dual Olympic gold medallist was, he said, disappointed - given a fast course and ideal weather conditions - not to add a 27th world record to the swag he already holds.

He finished in a brisk 42 minutes, 40 seconds - more than a minute outside Felix Limo's world mark. Competitors took his photo like starstruck fans and 4000 Melburnians took the chance to run - if not quite alongside the marathon world-record holder then at least in the same race.

Gebreselassie was delighted with the course, vowing to return next year, get his preparation right and have another dash at the 15km world record he still hunts.

Makau finished second and Mottram was fourth, behind his former training partner and Beijing Olympian Collis Birmingham. In the women's race, Kenyan Catherine Ndereba dominated from the start, leaving the field far behind well before the halfway mark.

The dual world championship marathon winner shook Olympic gold medallist Constantina Dita- Tomescu early in the race. Australian Lisa Weightman grabbed third behind New Zealander Alice Mason.

1st December, 2008. Great Australian Run Media Team.